Electrically-controlled elevator



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

A. M. OOYLE. ELEOTRIGALLY CONTROLLED ELEVATOR. No. 471.100.

Patented Mar. 22,1892.

FIG I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

A. M. OOYLE, ELEGTR ICALLY CONTROLLED ELEVATOR.

No. 471,100. Patented Mar. 22, 1892.

FIG;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AN DREIV M. COYLE, OF YVASI-IINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR T0. NELSON HISS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

-ELECTRlCALLY-CONTROLLED ELEVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,100, dated March 22, 1892. Application filed May 23, 1891. Serial No. 393,900. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW M. COYLE, a resident of the city of Washington, District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electrical Apparatus for Elevator Control, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to electrical apparatus or appliances for controlling the movements of an elevator-car from the several landings or floors of a building and from within the car itself, the object being to render unnecessary the services of an attendant for the car.

The invention contemplates means whereby all the desired movements of the car can be effected safely and with certainty without the exercise of any more care and intelligence than is required to touch a button corresponding to the number of the floor to which the car is desired to move. To this end the system comprises a series of parallel or branch circuits, one for each floor, and electrically-operated devices so constructed that when one of the switches or push-buttons is actuated the car will move to and come to rest at that floor, no matter whether the car be above or below the floor. This arrangement has obvious advantages over that which requires one operation to cause the elevator to ascend and another to cause it to descend.

. Electrical systems for controlling elevators have heretofore been devised by the aid of which the car can be controlled either from the different floors or from within the car itself; but in such systems interference and confusion are likely to occur in case some one at one of the landings attempts to control the car while it is in use. According to the present invention means are provided whereby no one at any of the floors can control the movement of the car so long as the same is occupied. This is or may be practically accomplished by leading the outside or floor circuits (as distinguished from the inside or car circuits) through a switch-lever or circuitchanger which is operated the moment a person enters the car, (as by his weight onthe floor,) so that outside control of the car is prevented until he leaves it.

The system is applicable to elevators employing motor mechanism of any sort and is connected in such manner as to operate the stopping, starting, and reversing devices, which may be the valves of an ordinary hydraulic system or a belt-shipper or other Wellknown mechanism.

In carrying out my invention I employ a main circuit in two parallel branches, including a generator. When the current flows in one branch, the proper device is actuated to cause the car to ascend, when it flows in the other branch the car descends, and when both branches are open the car is at rest. I employ a secondary or auxiliary circuit which branches to each floorand also to a number of switches or push-buttons in the car equal to the number of floors. The function of these circuits is simply to operate the main-circuit closer. There is one such main-circuit closer for each floor, and the main circuit includes a movable portion (which may be a metallic ribbon or band) which moves with or in unison with the elevator-car, and this movable portion consists of two sections insulated from each other, one section being permanently connected with that branch of the main circuit which causes the ascent of the car and the other with that branch which causes its descent. It follows that when the main circuit closer, say of the second floor is actuated the current will flow through one branch if the car be above that floor and through the other if it be below that floor, causing the car to move either up or down, as may be required. The moving band carries a mechanical circuitbreaker whose position with reference to the main-circuit closers is always the same as the position of the car with reference to the several floors which these circuit-closers represent. This circuit-breaker therefore acts to open the main circuit and throw the circuitcloser back to its normal position at the moment when the car reaches the floor at which it is desired to stop, and the car accordingly 5 comes to rest. The main-circuit closers could, of course, be at the ditferent floors, and the circuit-breaker be carried by the car itself; butit is obviously advantageous to reduce the length and complexity of the main circuit by employing a band or equivalent device moving in unison with the car, but over a much shorter path.

The invention, in addition to the main features above indicated, includes certain details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification,.Figure I is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electrical connections of the entire system. Fig. I is a detail indicating the position of electric valves. Fig. II is a detail of one of the main circuitclosers. Figs. III and IV are details of the moving band or carrier and the circuit-break er, and Figs. V and VI-are details of the circuit-changer for disconnecting the outside circuits.

In Figs. I, V, and VI the circuits are shown as disconnected at the elevator-car, which is assumed to be loaded.

In Fig. I the system is shown as applied to an ordinary hydraulic elevator of which A represents the cylinder; B, the piston; 'O, the sheaves connected with the piston; D, the stationary sheaves; E, the hoisting-rope, and F the car. G represents the inletvalve by which water is admitted to the cylinder to force the piston down, (raising the car,) and H the outlet-valve.

Fig. 1 indicates the application of a wellknown form of electric valve in which the motions of a flexible diaphragm in chamber t are controlled by electro-magnets inclosed in a box a. The valve G in pipe 9 follows the movements of the diaphragm, being opened when the latter is raised and vice versa. '0 is a pipe connecting the chamber t with pipe g. It is to be understood that this valve forms no part of my invention, but being a device in common use is shown merely as an example of one means which may be adopted to carry the invention into effect when applied to hydraulic elevators.

The multiplying sheaves O D amplify the motion of the piston, which travels, say, onefourth the distance of the car. The endless band or carrier I is connected by an arm 70 with the piston B, and therefore travels in unison with the car, but over a smaller path. This band runs over small sheaves Land carries portions of both branches of the main electric circuit which operates the valves G H. The band may be conveniently inthe form of a metallic ribbon whose continuity is interrupted at the two opposite points 1 and 2, Fig. I. That portion of the band which is above the break 1 is permanently includedin branch 3 of the main circuit, while that part which is belowl is permanently connected with the branch 4.

The switch-boards ao? et -one for each floor-are arranged at distances apart corresponding to the distance between the floors, and each is provided with main-circuit clos ing mechanism,such as shown in Fig. II, and

'main current at the same time.

hereinafter described. The main circuit proceeds from the generator X by wire 5, which connects by branch wires 6 with the maincircuit closers at the several switch-boards, (see Fig. 11,) at each of which the circuit is normally open, thence it returns to the generator by the band I and the branch 3 or 4, as the case may be.

The circuit-closer M, Fig. II, is a pivoted lever having a contact-point m and provided with a spring N, which tends to force its contact-point against the traveling band I, and thus electrically connect the wire 6 with said band. The latch O normally holds the circuit-closer out of contact with the band; but when the circuit of the magnetP is closed the circuit-closer is free to close the main circuit. Q is the mechanical circuitbreaker attached to the band I at the point Z where the metallic strips are separated. It moves through the guide R, as shown in Figs. III and IV, and throws back the circuit-closerM until the latter is caught by its latch 0.

As the operation of working the valves or operating other starting mechanism requires considerable energy, I have made the main circuit short and of as low resistance as possible, using a separate circuit supplied by the generator Y (or-it may be by the same generator X) for the contacts and switch mechanism in the car F and on the several floors.

Other advantages attend this arrangement,

as will be seen hereinafter.

The secondary circuit requires very little energy, the only work it has to do being to energize the magnet P, which releasesthe main -circuit closer M. Each floor has a switch-or push-button b 19 6 Switch 1) on floor 1 is in the circuit of the magnet P on switch-board a, which corresponds with the first floor, and so on. In the car are three similar switches or push-buttons c c 0 controlling the circuitclosers at the switchboards a a a respectively.

The course of the auxiliary circuit and its several branches can be readily traced on Fig. I. Beginning at one pole of the generator Y the wire 7 runs through contacts controlled by the doors S on the several floors. This prevents the main circuit from being closed and consequently the car from moving so long as any door is open. This expedient, however, is not broadly new. From the lastdoor the circuit continues by wire 8 to the switchboard ct, where it is closed through contacts 0 p, when the main-circuit closer M is in its normal position, Fig. II. The secondary circuit, therefore, is broken as soon as the main circuit is closed, which prevents more than one main-circuit closer M from closing the It is not likely that two buttons would be pressed at exactly the same instant; but to avoid con fusion from such an event I propose to make the loops from the several floors of different resistance, so that one magnet will act more promptly than the others. The circuit con tinues from switch-board a by wire 9 to switch-board a and by wire 10 to switchboard a each of which has a similar provision for breaking it. It then proceeds by wire 11 to a rope or cable which follows the elevatorcar, and in the latter it divides into three normally-open branches 12, 13, and 14, which include, respectively, the switches or push-bottoms c c 0 corresponding with the several floors of the building. Following the branch 12 we find it returns through the rope or cable referred to, to the lower switch-board a, connecting by wire 15 with one end of the magnet-coil P and by wire 16 with the main return wire 17 to the opposite pole of the generator Y. It will be seen by examination of the diagram that the branches 13 and 14 are similarly connected with the switch-boards C62 and d respectively, and wit-h the main return wire 17. Returning now to wire 11 we find that before it reaches the push-buttons in the car it connects with a branch wire 19, leading to a movable contact 21, which is carried by a lever or scale-beam T and normally pressed by a spring 6 against a fixed contact 22 on the floor of the car. The weight of a passenger standing on the false bottom U, which is pivoted at it, causes beam T to tilt by pressing on the short arm thereof, thereby separating contacts 21 and 22, and as these contacts are in the circuit of the external push-buttons Z2 b b it follows that the elevator cannot be controlled from the floors or landings so long as the car is occupied. This circuit is completed as follows: From fixed contact 22 a wire 20 branches to each push-button. From button I) a wire 23 runs to wire 15, thence to the magnet P of the first switch-board a, and thence to the generator by wires 16 and 17. In like manner the pushbuttons b Z1 are connected by wires 24 and 25, respectively, with their corresponding switch-boards. 4

The operation of the system will now be explained. The car being at the top floor, as shown in Fig. I the circuit-breaker Q will be between the circuit-closer M of the top switch-board a and the traveling band I. The door S of the top floor must be closed before the car can move, and it is preferred to have means for automatically closing the doors, as commonly employed. A person on the first floor now desires to use the car and pushes push-button I). Here an advantage of using a separate main circuit is seen, for it is not necessary for the person to hold his button down until the car arrives. A momentary contact closes the auxiliary circuit through the magnet P at switch-board a, and the car at once starts and continues to move until it reaches the first floor. Neither is it necessary to ascertain whether the car be above or below the landing and to operate the proper valve to make it descend orascend, as the case may be. XVe have seen that the division Z between the two metallic strips of band I is at the top floor.

Conse uentlv as soon as button Z) is pressed magnet Pat board a is energized, latch O is lifted, circuit-closer M released, and the main circuit closed thereby, the current flowing through the branch 4, which causes the descent of the car. Had the car been below the first landing, the current would have flowed through the branch 3. The car having started continues its descent, and circuit-breaker Q travels down in unison with it until it reaches the point of lever M at board a, which it forces back until engaged by latch O. At this moment the car reaches the first landing, and the main circuit, being broken, comes to rest. During its descent no one at an intermediate station could control and arrest it, for as soon as lever M was released it broke the auxiliary circuit between the wires 8 and 9 by separating-contacts o 9. (See Fig. 11.) called the car can then open the door, which again breaks the secondary circuit, and as soon as he enters the car and before the door can be closed behind him his weight has separated the contacts 21 22, as already explained, thus breaking the outside branches of the secondary circuit. hen the door is closed, he touches the button in the car corresponding to the floor to which he desires to go-say button 0 This closes the circuit of magnet P at board (t the circuit being by wire 15 to the magnet and 16 to the main return-conductor 17. As the break 1 in the traveling part of the main circuit is now beneath the second floor switch-board (F, the main circuit is closed by circuit-closing lever M through the branch 3, causing the car to ascend until the circuit-breaker Q again opens it, when it acts on the lever M at the board a and brings the car to rest at the second floor.

For the sake of simplifying the description I have shown the connections for but three floors; but it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that it may be applied to any desired number of floors or landings. "It will be obvious, also, that some of the improvements may be used without others, and that details of construction may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The provision for preventing interference with the movements of the car While in use by automatically breaking all the outside circuit connections is considered an important feature of the invention, and it may be carried out in differentways. For example, as shown in Fig. V, the hoisting-rope E is connected to an eyebolt e, which bears upon a spiral spring t, which is sufficiently strong to keep the terminal 21, carried by the eyebolt, in contact with the fixed terminal 22 as long as the car is empty. hen the weight is increased by the entrance of a person into the car, the contacts will be separated, as shown. The arrangement shown in Fig. VI is similar in operation. The rope E is attached to a lever T, beneath which is a strong spring i, which keeps the contact-plates 21 22 together when the car is empty, but is compressed when The person who has IIO the normal weight is increased by that of a passenger or passengers.

I claim 1. In a system for controlling elevators electrically, the combination, with a starting and stopping mechanism, of a main electric circuit controlling the starting and stopping mechanism, aseries of main-circuit closers for the several floors or landings, and a series of magnets in branches of an auxiliary circuit for operating said circuit-closers, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the car and with starting and stopping mechanism, of the main controlling-circuit having two branches, two conducting-strips traveling with the car and connected with the two branches, respectively, main-circuit closers for each floor or landing, and circuit connections, as specified, for actuating each circuit-closer from the corresponding floor, so as to close the main circuit through one or the other branch, according as the car is above or below such floor, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the car and with starting and stopping mechanism, of the main controllingecircuit having two branches, one to cause the ascent of the car and the other to cause its descent, two conducting-strips having their ends in close proximity and connected with said two branches, respectively, circuit-closers, one for each floor, adapted to make contact with one strip when the car is above the floor corresponding therewith and with the other when the car is below said fioor, and a circuit-breaker also traveling with the car, so as to disengage each main-circuit closer as the car reaches the floor to which it corresponds, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with starting and stopping mechanism, of the main circuit having a movable portion, main-circuit closers for the several landings, and an auxiliary circuit having branches with switches or push-buttons at each landing and including magnets in each branch for controlling the corresponding circuit-closer, said auxiliary circuit including, also, aseries of contacts, one of which is broken whenever one of the circuit-closers is actuated to closethe main circuit, substantially as described.

5. The combination of the car, starting and stopping devices therefor, the main conducting-circuit, the two conducting-strips traveling in unison with said car,but at .a lessspeed, and connected, respectively, with parallel branches of said main circuit, main-circuit closers, one for each landing, adapted to close the circuit through one or the other of said strips, an auxiliary circuit and magnets for actuating said circuit-closers, said auxiliary circuit having a normally-open branch at each landing and normally-open branches equal to the number of landings in the car, and circuit-closers, such as push-buttons, at the several landings and in the car, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the car, means for starting and stopping the car, a main controlling-circuit having two branches including,respectively, devices for starting the car in opposite directions, two conducting-strips electrically insulated but mechanically connected, said strips traveling in unison with the car and included, respectively, in the two branches, a series of main-circuit closers separated by distances proportional to the distance between the respective landings, and a circuit-breaker arranged at the point where the ends of the two conducting-stripsapproach each other, substantially as described.

7. In a system for electrically controlling ,the movements of an elevator-car, the combination, with the car and actuating mechanism therefor and with a circuit, including devices for starting the car in either direction, of a circuit-closer for each floor or landing and a circuit-breaker traveling with the car so as to open the circuit and arrest the car when the latter reaches the landing whose circuit-closer has been actuated, substantially as described.

8. In a system for electrically controlling the movements of an elevator-car, the combination, with the car and mechanism for starting and stopping the same, of a series of main-circuit closers, one for each landing, a main circuit having two branches, as specified, a circuit-breaker moving with the car so as to pass each circuit-closer as the car reaches the corresponding landing, and two disconnected conducting-strips connected, respectively, with the two branches of the main circuit extending in opposite directions from said circuit-breaker and moving therewith, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the starting and stopping mechanism and the main cont-rollingcircuit therefor, of the traveling band carrying a conducting strip or strips forming part of the main circuit, a series of pivoted levers constituting circuit-closers for said main circuit, an actuating-spring for each lever, a latch for holding the lever in opposition to its spring, a magnet in an auxiliary circuit for withdrawing said latch, and a mechanical circuit-breaker carried by said band, substantially as described.

10. In an electrical system for controlling the movements of an elevator-car, the combination, with the car, starting and stopping mechanism therefor, and circuits, including switches or push-buttons at the several landings and extending to the car, of contacts act uated by the entrance of a person into the car to open or disconnect the external circuits, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with electrical circuits and appliances for controlling the motion of an elevator-car from the several landings of a building, of a switch or circuitchanger actuated by the weight of a person in the car for opening or disconnecting said circuits, substantially asdescribed.

switch or circuit-changer actuated bya movable platform in said car for opening the external circuits while the car is 0ccupied,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this [5 specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREW M. ooYLE.

Witnesses:

PHILIP MAURO, JONATHAN OILLEY, 

